Ceiling construction



June 16, 1936; H REEL 2,044,101

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L TE-i INVENTOR H EBEQTWREEL.

ATTORNEY June 16, 1936. I HWREEL 2,044,101 I CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 220: 591 as 44 INVENTOR J HEQBE/QT 14/. R551.

ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,044,101 CEILING CONSTRUCTION Herbert W. Reel. Hinsdale, 111., assignor to The United States Gypsum 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 8, 1931, Serial No. 507,317

7 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction, and has reference more particularly to the construction of precast ceilings.

In the construction of precast ceilings for building, it is desirable to have a construction in which the lower faces of the precast tiles or slabs lie in a single plane, the surface being without waves or depressions so that it may be plastered to present a smooth, even surface. It is also desirable that the precast ceiling slabs be so constructed that they may be installed in the ceiling with a minimum of labor. In order to secure ease of erection, and low installation cost, it is generally desirable to use a grillage system of small, parallel, structural bars suspended below the main beams of the floor. It is preferable that these slabs be tight up against the bottom of the grillage strip so that they cannot unhook from their supporting members, and so that they will not rattle when the plaster is applied to the under-face of the slab.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a precast ceiling construction, in which the lower faces of the precast slabs present a smooth, even surface for the reception of plaster.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling construction which may be erected with a minimum of labor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ceiling construction suspended from grillage members in which the slabs are tight against the bottom of said members; also to improve building constructions in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the improved slabs.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the slab shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the slab.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the ceiling construction employing the improved slabs.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the ceiling construction, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slab being attached to a grillage bar.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation through a modifled form of ceiling construction.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation through the ceiling construction taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the slabs used in the ceiling construction shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the tile shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation through the slab taken on line l of Fig. 9.

In the construction of a floor or ceiling, it is 5 customary to provide a plurality of beams l5, which are in spaced, parallel relation supported at their ends on the vertical walls of the building. I provide grillage bars I6 of any suitable structural shapes, such as the channels as shown, 0 which are suspended from the beams l5 by means of U shaped stirrups or hangers ll, which inclose the grillage bars l6 and hook over the top of the beams l5. In the suspension of my improved slabs |8, it is important that said slabs 15 closely abut the lower flanges IQ of the bars l6, so that when plastering is applied to the lower surface of the slabs, the slabs will not be loose and rattle under the pressure of the plasterers tools.

The slabs l8 are preferably provided with an upper tongue 2| and a lower tongue 22, along opposite, diagonal edges, which serve to overlap similar tongues of the adjoining tiles or slabs. The slab I8 is also provided with a metal reinforcing mat 22-a which extends into both of the tongues 2| and 22 to reinforce said tongues and the entire slab. Additional tongues 23 are also formed on the slab IS on the long longitudinal edges thereof at right angles to the tongues 2| and 22, the tongues 23 also being for the purpose of interlocking with the adjoining slabs.

Each of the slabs I8 is provided with a hook or loop bar 24 embedded in the slab adjacent and parallel to the lower tongue 22. Each hook bar 22 has one or more U shaped loops 25 extending upwardly into recesses 26 formed in the upper surface of the slab I8, each of the recesses extending into a slot 21 formed above the lower tongue 22. Each of the loops 25 preferably has a section 28 extending beyond the recess 26, so that the gypsum or other cementitious material of whichthe slab I8 is composed may be chipped away to extend the recess 25 and thus permit a hanger hook 29 to be located along said loop 25 in a position to avoid any beams which may lie directly above the slab H3. The hanger hook 29 is perfectly L shaped and has a transversely extending leg 30 extending over the upper flange 3| of the grillage bar, said leg 30 terminating in a downwardly projecting leg 32 serving to closely and partially enclose upper flange 3|. The lower end of the hanger hook 29 is formed into an arcuate hook 33 which is arranged to hook under the loop 25. The hook 33 is preferably accurately spaced away from the leg 36 so that the upper surface of the slab l8 either closely abuts the lower flange E9 of the grillage channel, or else is spaced away from said flange E53 by a distance somewhat less than the diameter of a horizontal connecting section 34 of the stirrup hanger 17.

One of the salient features of my invention resides in the manner of attaching the slab 8 to the grillage bar I 6 and beam I5. As seen in Fig. 6, when the slab [8 adjacent the tongue 22 is attached to the grillage channel l6, said slab may be elevated slightly with the grillage channel l6 extending into the slot 2?. The bar I may be sprung out of line slightly to permit the hook 33 to be placed under the loop 25. In lieu of this method of erection the hook 33 may be placed under the loop 25 and then the hanger leg 33 placed on top of the flange 3|. The slab 20 then is lowered slightly so that the bottom face of the lower flange I9 is again positioned above the upper surface of the slab l8. The upper tongue 2| of the adjoining slab is then slipped into place above the lower tongue 22, some of the soft gypsum of the tongue 2| being gouged out by the stirrup section 34. The upper tongue 2| of the adjoining slab firmly locks the slab with the loop 25 resting in the hook 33, so that the slabs do not rattle when plaster is applied by plastering tools to the lower surface of the slabs I8. This locking feature also prevents the hook 33 from becoming inadvertently disconnected from the loop 25 to prevent the ceiling slabs from falling from their supports. This construction, therefore, provides a precast slab ceiling in which the slabs are easily erected and firmly locked in place.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive, the grillage channels 35 extend transversely of the lower tongue 35 and upper tongue 3! of the precast slab 38. A hook bar 39 extends parallel to each lower tongue 36 with a loop 40 extending upwardly into a recess 4| formed in the slab 38, said recess 4! opening into a slot 4|a formed above each lower tongue 37. A stirrup hanger, preferably U shaped, has a pair of downwardly extending legs 42 connected by a horizontal section 43, the lower ends of said legs terminating in arcuate hooks 44 which are arranged to hook under the loop 46. The hooks 44 are preferably accurately spaced away from the section 43 so that when the slabs 38 are in position, their upper surface lies in the plane of the lower surface of flange 34 of the grillage channel 35. Inclined slots 46 are formed in the upper surface of the slab 38, extending upwardly from the recess 4| and across the slab to the upper tongue 31. This slot 46 permits the slab 38 to be tilted upwardly so that the hook 44 may be slipped under the loop 40. The slab 38 is then lowered with the loop 40 in place in the hook 44, and the upper tongue 3'! of the adjoining tile is then pushed into place above the lower tongue 36 thus locking the slab to prevent rattling during the plastering operation, and to also prevent the inadvertent unhooking of the hooks 44 from said loops 40. U-shaped stirrup hangers 47 extend under the grillage channels 35 and up over supporting beams 48. This modified form of ceiling construction also has the features of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, in that the slots 46 temporarily receive the grillage channels 35 during the erection of the slab. I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to these details, since manifestly, the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as deflned in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as 5 new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding l0 tongue formed along each opposite diagonal edge of slab forming upper and lower tongues, each of said support bars lying above and parallel to a slot formed above each lower tongue, a loop bar embedded in said slab, and having a loop adjacent said slot, and a hook connecting a loop to a support bar, said support bar being adapted to tem porarily extend into said slot while said hook is attached to said loop.

2. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding tongue formed along each opposite, diagonal edge of a slab, forming upper and lower tongues, each of said bars lying above and parallel to a slot formed above each lower tongue, a loop bar embedded in said slab and having a loop extending adjacent said slot, and a hook connecting a loop to a support bar, said support bar being adapted to temporarily extend into said slot, while said hook is attached to said support bar, the upper tongue of the adjoining tile extending into said slot and locking the slabs against upward displacement and accidental disconnection of said hooks from said loops.

3. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, each slab having a slot formed transversely across the upper surface thereof, a reinforcing loop bar embedded in said slab and having a loop extending adjacent said slot, and a hook connecting said loop to said support bar, said support bar being arranged to extend into said slot at the time said hook is connected to said loop.

4. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs 50 arranged in a plane below said bars, each slab having a slot formed in the upper surface thereof, a reinforcing loop bar embedded in said slab and having a loop adjacent said slot, a hook connecting said loop to said bar, said support bar being arranged to extend into said slot at the time said hook is connected to said loop, and locking means formed on the adjoining slab and adapted to extend into said slot to prevent the disengagement of said loop from said hook.

5. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding tongue formed along each opposite, diagonal edge of a slab forming upper and lower tongues, each of said bars lying above and perpendicular to a slot formed in the upper surface of said slab, a loop bar embedded in such slab and having a loop extending into said slot, and a hook connecting a loop to a bar, said support bar being adapted to temporarily extend into said slot while said hook is attached to said loop.

6. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of support bars in spaced, parallel relation, of a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding tongue formed along each opposite, diagonal edge of a slab forming upper and lower tongues, each of said support bars lying above a slot formed above each lower tongue, a loop bar embedded in such a slab and having a loop, said slab having a recess formed in its upper surface opening into said slot, said loop extending into said recess, a

hook connecting a loop to a support bar, said support bar being adapted to temporarily extend into said slot while said hook is attached to said loop, and the upper tongue of an adjoining slab extending into said slot and locking said hook against disengagement from said loop.

7. In a ceiling construction, the combination with a plurality of supporting beams in spaced,

parallel relation, of a plurality of transversely extending, parallel grillage bars extending below said beams, stirrup hangers connecting said grillage bars to said beams and having sections extending under said bars, a plurality of precast ceiling slabs arranged in a plane below said bars, an outstanding tongue formed along each opposite, diagonal edge of a slab forming upper and lower tongues, a loop bar embedded in each slab adjacent a lower tongue and having a loop, said slab having a slot formed in its upper surface adjacent to said loop for temporarily receiving said grillage bar during erection of said flange, and a hanger hook for connecting said loop to said grillage bar while said grillage bar extends into said slot.

HERBERT W. REEL. 

